A Welsh restaurant owner has claimed that he needed heart treatment after the hygiene rating for his business was dropped from five to zero. Don Hadwin from Llandudno said that he had been subjected to a 'witch hunt' by his council and that the stress caused him to have heart problems.
The 63-year-old whose heart stopped during emergency treatment blamed Conwy Council officials for causing him stress after an inspection by environmental health officers on October 24. As a result of the inspection, the Seahorse restaurant in Llandudno was downgraded from a hygiene rating of five to zero.
Don said that at the time of the inspection he was off work having undergone a knee operation and his wife was caring for him meaning they were unable to accompany the three inspectors. The pair told North Wales Live since the inspection they have been unable to arrange a reassessment and have been threatened with a fine for not displaying the new rating.
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The couple have said they have been the subject of a "witch hunt" and have now reported their concerns to the Local Government Ombudsman and are being supported by the Federation of Small Businesses. Around £8,000 has now been spent in upgrading the restaurant and a reinspection has been organised.
However, Gill believes she and her husband have been treated badly throughout the process. She said: “We’ve built up this business over 19 years and we’ve worked hard to make it a success. "We work up to 16 hours a day, seven days a week. The way we’ve been treated makes us feel violated. We’ve been shouted at and threatened with prison. If a council employee had been treated the same way, there would have been uproar – those responsible would have been relieved of their posts.”
Following the October inspection visit, the couple accepted some shortcomings after multiple hygiene failings were identified by environmental health officers but say this was due to their enforced absence. Don claimed he was told the restaurant’s new rating would not be publicised until the appeal had been completed but was soon shared a Facebook post of the new score.
He also said that by the time a letter documenting the appeals process arrived, the 14-day deadline had already passed. According to the couple, numerous emails and voicemails went unanswered. Relating to the fines about not displaying the new rating, the couple claims they have yet to receive the new stickers.
“It’s an old building, so it’s always a challenge keeping up with the latest regulations, which change regularly,” said Don. “But the place is now absolutely spotless, everything has been done to the letter.”
Don claims all the stress of the rating came to a head on Friday when he was repairing a Ring video doorbell when he fell ill. He claims a blood pressure monitor showed a heart rate close to 200bpm. Gill took him to Llandudno General Hospital where his heart rate was confirmed at 177bpm.
“The hospital is not set up to deal with emergencies,” said Gill. “But we were extremely lucky as there were doctors on the wards who came down to help, and the right drug was available in the hospital pharmacy. As the drug can cause the heart to stop, Don was rigged up to a defibrillator. In fact, he did flatline for a few seconds but luckily his heart restarted naturally.”
He was transferred to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, and has since made a full recovery. According to Don, a nurse who investigated his case believes his condition was brought on by stress.
Conwy Council’s regulatory services team said the Seahorse is now due to undergo reassessment for its hygiene rating. A spokesperson said: “We were very sorry to hear that Mr Hadwin was unwell, and we wish him a speedy recovery.
“When we’re carrying out food safety inspections we have to apply the food safety and food hygiene rating legislation in a consistent manner for all businesses. We’re pleased to note the necessary work has been completed; the re-rating inspection is programmed, and we’ll endeavour to carry it out as soon as we can.”
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